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Full Text

Graduate
International
Volume 49,
1995
Eric Schroder '79 on Thailand P. 7 • China Joint Ventures P. 12 • Asia/Europe Reunions! P.39
THUNDERBIRD
8 12
2
China's Golden
Goose
Will 1997 bring tragedy or
comedy to Hong Kong?
39
Malaysian Joint Ventures T'bird
Customs in China Reunions!
SaI\iyot Dunung '87 Practical guidelines for Photos from the 1995
offers cultural business success from Professor Asian and European
advice. Min Chen. reunions.
7 Alumni Viewpoint
16
20
44
Eric Schroder '79 previews Thailand's future.
News
New VP oversees academic departments, Dresdner Bank CEO
speaks, Olympic medalist Tanya Hughes willS bronze, and more.
Network & Updates
T'bird news from around the world.
Alumni Focus: Japan, Vietnam MBA, Pandas, Latin America
Letter from Elsewhere
Buddhist Monks and Thailand, from Brian M. Kelly '83.
Thunderbird Directory
Alumni Relations
e-mail
Admissions:
Alumni Relations:
Career Services:
Communication:
(602) 978-7135 (phone)
(602) 978-6814 (fax)
johnsor\i@t-bird.edu
combes@t-bird.edu
casej@t-bird.edu
crowelln@t-bird.edu
mcmillat@t-bird.edu
Thunderbird Magazine
Volume 49, Issue 3
1995
A publication of the
AluItUli Relations Office of
The American Graduate
School of International
Management, 15249 N. 59th
Avenue, Glendale, AZ
85306-6006
(602) 978-7135,
FAX (602) 978-6814
Assistant Vice President for
Communication and Editor:
Nelda S. Crowell
Managing Editor:
Thomas McMillan
Contributing Editor:
Pam Selthul1
Contributing Writers:
Min Chen
Sat\iyot Dunung '87
Brian M. Kelly '83
Nancy K Napier '75
Allison Underhill '86
Communication Secretary:
Gwen Swanson
Editorial and Production
Assistants:
Reid Belu'endt
Avid Navidi '91
Jay Oglesby
JeffUnze
Design:
Pat Kenny Graphic Design
Assistant Vice President
of Alumni Relations
and Giving:
Susan Combe
Assi!'ltant Director of
Alumni Relations:
Michelle Olson
Alunmi Relations Staff:
Advertising Director:
Janet M. Mueller
Receptionist/Secretary:
Cindy Hepburn
Receptionist/Clerk:
Chris Mosakowski
Submissions may be
sent electronically to
Nelda S. Crowell
througl1 the Internet:
crowelln@t-bird.eduor
througl1 the CompuServe
Thunderbird FOlUm
72662,3422.
ON THE COVER:
Chinesejunk overlooking
Hong Kong, murtesy Hong
Kong TOltrist Association
Thunderbird Alumni
Association 1994-1995
Board of Directors and
Officers:
Chatm1an ofthe Board:
Stephen K Orr '79
President:
H. Gene Wick '60
Vice Presidents:
Michael Dillon '78
Maarten Flem'ke '79
Thomas D. Hobson '79
LindaJ. Magoon'84
Acting Secretary:
Michelle Olson
Ex Officio Members:
Roy A. Herberger, Jr.
JOM E. Berndt
John C. Cook '79
President, Associated
Students Legislative Council
Board Members:
George T. DeBakey'73
Michael T. Dillon '78
Webb F. Elkins '63
Thomas L. Guetzke '86
ChristopherP.JoID1son'86
Larry K. Mellinger'68
McDiamud R. Messenger '72
Carolyn Polson O'Malley '70
Joseph A. O'Neill '80
Richard E. Ragsdale '67
Mike A. Santellanes, Sr. '60
Martha S. Van Gelder
Gypton '88
Honorary Board Members:
Joseph M. Klein '47
The Alunmi Relations Office
has implemented a new data­base
software to better main­tain
and enhance the Thunder­bird
network. Alumni data
continues to be released to
the Thunderbird conununity
only for noncommercial pur­poses.
Please contact Alumni
Relations if you do not want
your name and preferred con­tact
infoffi1ation given to your
peers upon request.
Thm1derbird, The Ametican
Graduate School oflnter­national
Management, is com­mitted
to non-discliminatory
practices in employment,
admissiOns, and educational
programs and activities. Thun­derbird
is an equal opportuni­ty,
affinnative action employ­er
that complies with applica­ble
federal, state and local
laws, statutes, orders and reg­ulations
prohibiting discrimi­nation
on the basis of race,
color, religion, national origin,
gender, age, disability and vet­eran
status.
being booked.
Alwnni responses to the travel survey in
the last magazine indicated specific inter­ests
in "unique travel" destinations, "cultur­ally
enriching" experiences, and trips that
meet "diverse interests."
As a result, the alwnni travel program is
developing custom T'bird excursions to a
broad selection of global destinations.
What Kinds of Trips?
The travel program's goal is to provide
unique trips that offer alwnni experiences
unmatched by typical travel companies.
These trips will include:
• "Off the beaten path" journeys
designed for small groups of friends who
prefer unique encounters, such as interac­tion
with the vanishing cultures of the
Amazon rainforests in Venezuela
• Culturally enriching experiences in
regions such as India, where you stay in for­mer
palaces of Maharajas, take jeep tours
to tiny agrarian villages unspoiled by
tourists, and interact with villagers working
in the fields.
• Enlightenment tours that focus on
building international relationships and
cross-cultural understanding by exploring
undiscovered areas in countries like China
or Vietnam-and which also include the
special involvement of local Tbird alumni.
• Active excursion packages, such as a
fishing trip to the remote King Salmon,
Alaska, a trek through New Zealand's
Milford Sound, or photographic safaris of
Africa.
• Group trips with a common theme but
multiple activity options designed to meet
individual interests, such as a one-week trip
to Costa Rica offering white-water rafting,
hiking a volcano, or a refresher Spanish
class.
In addition to providing opportunities for
alumni to reunite in exciting locations, the
new travel program will also benefit Thun­derbird.
A portion of proceeds from the
program will help support important
School initiatives like the Thunderbird
scholarship program.
Thanks to all the alumni who filled out the
travel survey. Your ideas and preferences
will help us better
tugetThundeibirds
travel program to
your needs. Special
congratulations to
Irene Selwa '90,
who won the $500
credit in our survey
drawing towards
any travel program
trip.
In addition to the "Journey
for Discovery: India" trip
(see below), several fun
post-homecoming trips
are already being booked,
including travel to Mexico
City, the Grand Canyon,
Acapulco, Las Vegas, and a
hot-air balloon trip in New
Mexico. For a complete list
of options and prices, call
Four Winds Travel at
(800) 875-3363
ext. 12, or fax
(770) 698-0460.
THE GOLDEN GOOSE: The Hong Kong skyline at twilight. peaceful for the moment.
When the clock strikes mid­night
on June 30, 1997,
control of Hong Kong,
arguably the most indepen­dent
financial and commercial business
center in Asia, will revert to China, pos­sibly
the world's most controlling gov­ernment.
What will change? The answer
to that question, say many experts, is
like China itself-difficult to guess, and
almost impossible to know for sure.
To understand how Hong Kong's
reversion to China is being talked
about, Thunderbird spoke with several
alumni and professors who
have spent time on the front
lines of Asian business. Some
T'birds are pessimistic about
Hong Kong's chances. They
point out the Middle King­dom's
history of strictly con­trolling
internal affairs as an
indication of how Hong Kong
will be run. "Hong Kong is an
exciting place, where anything
is likely to happen," says one
alumnus. "But you will have to
have the stomach for it."
Others are cautiously opti­mistic.
They believe that
change is inevitable given
China's national pride, but that
THUNDERBIRD 49 131 1995
Hong Kong is basically too important to
China's economic future for Beijing to
radically alter the status quo. "Hong
Kong is still the gateway to the main­land,"
notes another alumnus. "Busi­ness
activities will continue here and
individuals will make their fortunes. No
one knows for sure what the final out­come
will be, but I do not think 1997
will mean the end for Hong Kong."
Still others see the change from
China's viewpoint. "With patience, and
with understanding, the integration of
China into the world economy will her-ald
the beginning of a new era of global
economic vibrancy," The Honorable Dr.
David K.P. Li, deputy chairman and
chief executive officer of The Bank of
East Asia, Ltd., and Thunderbird
trustee, told the audience at the
School's recent Asian reunion in Hong
Kong, where over 125 alumni and sup­porters
from all over Asia discussed
current business issues (see p.39 for
coverage and plwtos).
Despite these differing opinions, per­haps
the most telling fact about the
impending takeover is the underlying
reluctance among many
T'birds to speak openly about
what is happening today, and
what might happen in the
future. Staring into that future,
some Tbirds, like most busi­ness
people in Hong Kong and
China, understand the value of
keeping a low public profIle
when dealing with China. No
matter which way 1997 goes,
one thing is for certain: Beijing
does not like to be backed into
a corner.
DOUBLE DECKERS:
<1: The vestiges of British rule will
~ always remain in Hong Kong.
THE GOLDEN GOOSE
George O'Keeffe '77, vice president
and managing principal, worldwide
information services, at Unisys (Asia)
Ltd. in Hong Kong, is one of the opti­mistic
ones. "I think Hong Kong will
remain business as usual for the most
part after 1997," says O'Keeffe, who is
also a member of Thunderbird's Global
Advisory Council. "The Chinese are a
very pragmatic people. They will try to
ensure they don't kill the goose that lays
the golden egg."
O'Keeffe says the reason China will
not extend too heavy a hand over Hong
Kong is for practical reasons. "If they
do, foreign businesses will bail out and
capital will flee. That's the last thing
China needs in terms of continued eco­nomic
growth for all of China. Hong
Kong is extremely important to China,
and will remain so for 20 to 30 years. "
Yet while O'Keeffe is generally opti­mistic
about Hong Kong's future, he is
also an experienced Asia watcher. He
says that he has worked in Asia too long
to think that there won't be some mea­sure
of serious uneasiness when China
takes control of the British colony.
"While China has a very good history
of sticking by its agreements, it's still
too early to say what will eventually
happen. 1 believe you will see a lot more
posturing from the Chinese but without
significant change in the status quo."
O'Keeffe believes the most natural out­come
in 1997 is that Hong Kong will
continue to be run by the local govern­ment
and business establishments, but
"with more influences from Beijing. "
The one area O'Keeffe strongly
asserts China cannot afford to change is
Hong Kong's 'rule of law' [the legal
framework upon which business, poli­tics,
and freedom is
based]. "The rule of law is
the single most important
element of Hong Kong's
success," states O'Keeffe.
"It is the thing of most
concern to both foreign
businesses and the local
populace. If the rule of
law changes, it will
destroy confidence in the
system, and Hong Kong is
built on confidence."
MIDDLE-CLASS FEAR:
Will freedom be curtailed?
Don't miss
A Prisoner of Its Own Success?
the 1996 Asian
Reunion, Sept. 6-8
in Singapore! (call
602.978.7135) Professor John Frankenstein, a
senior lecturer at Ow University of
Hcmg Kcmg Business ScIwol and senior
research associate at Thu7Ulerbinl, Iu;u;
observed d.eveInpments between Hcmg
Kcmg and Chinafor over 40 years.
This past April at Ow Asian reunion
he 1II.Oderated a business panel on Ow
lessons learned in Ow China market by
multinational companies. On a recent
trip to Thu7Ulerbinl, he spoke on what
might Iulppen in
1997.
China's political culture. But
there have been many surprises
over the last 15 years. Who knows?
• What about the competition
between Hong Kong and
Singapore?
Many inside and outside of China
believe that Shanghai is a much more
viable threat, and will reemerge as the
most important financial center. The
city is being trans­fonned.
Before w. w.n,
Hong Kong was a
• How did the sleepy town and
reversion of Hong Shanghai had all of the
Kong to China action. The thinking is
arise in the first that Hong Kong will
place? remain to service
I believe it came about Guangdong. Most of
when Margaret the economic activity
Thatcher, filled with there is financed from
the flush of victory Hong Kong already.
over the Argentines in Shanghai lies near the
the Falkland's war, . Yangtze river and is in
came to Deng Xiao- FRANKENSTEIN: 40 years expenence the heartland of
ping in the early 1980s wishing to renew Chinese industry and technology. It is
the lease. No one in China wanted to Chinese driven, whereas Hong Kong is
deal with this issue. Chairman Mao is on more foreign-interest driven. Remem-record
sa,ying, "Let Hong Kong be Hong ber, the post-1992 boom in China
Kong." But once the issue was raised, started in Shanghai.
there could be no other answer than to
say that China would be taking Hong
Kong back. During the early 198Os, ris­ing
nationalism resulting from the
inability to reunify Taiwan almost man­dated
that Deng Xiaoping make this
stand. Essentially, in 1997 the landlord
is calling in the lease.
• What will the Chinese do in 199n
The Chinese theory of what will happen
in 1997 is that Hong Kong will become
the central a.dminis­trative
center of
China. Likewise there
will be a basic law
that under the rubric
of one country-two
systems, Hong Kong
would be allowed to
have unchecked
development for the
next 50 years with
the current legal sys­tem
unchanged.
Many who have stud-
~ ied China are skepti.­:
I: cal about this, given
• What do people in Hong Kong
fear about 199n
Some in Hong Kong are concerned that
things will become a little less struc­tured
and corrupt, as China doesn't
understand Hong Kong fully. There are
some minor crime problems, but Hong
Kong has a wonderful public transport
system, a communications system, and
is culturally vibrant. Many fear that
China will inadvertently mess things up.
The middle class in Hong Kong leads a
comfortable and free lifestyle today.
They fear that the control will shift from
the economy to their lives.
• What control will Beijing assert?
The older generation of China sees the
issue of regaining Hong Kong not in
economic terms, but in terms of finally
ending the Opium War and regaining
controL Hong Kong will be very depen­dent
upon the whims of Beijing. The
dependency relationship has been
reversed. Yet many feel that China
would never kill the golden goose. In
reality, Hong Kong is a prisoner of its
own success.
THUNDERBIRD 49 131 1995
HONG KONG STREET OPERA: Will 1997 bring tragedy or comedy to the British colony?
PRAalCAL PEOPLE
According to Min Chen, assistant
professor of international studies, the
question of what will happen to rule of
law in Hong Kong is the million dollar
question come 1997.
"The Chinese are practical people,"
explains Chen, who is an expert on the
Asian region, particularly China and
Hong Kong. "I think rule of law must
remain in Hong Kong." Yet Chen is also
practical himself, and knows that the
most important thing to Beijing is the
ability to control its own affairs. "I
wouldn't rule out the possibility of
China interfering in legal matters that
have political implications."
Chen also believes that China's real
concerns are not necessarily what the
popular media portrays them to be.
"What China really feels bitter about is
the timing of Britain's move to greater
direct representation in the legislative
council," notes Chen. He says China is
understandably angry that Great Britain
suddenly shifted from a representa­tional
election system that allowed gov­ernment
appointees, to one based on
popular elections by the people.
"All China wanted was the same thing
Great Britain had until they changed the
rules-the ability to appoint people
sympathetic to the ruling government."
However, in the recent Hong Kong elec-
4 THUNDERBIRD 49 131 1995
tions, the pro-democratic party trounced
the Beijing-backed candidates. This,
says Chen, is a change that does not sit
well with Beijing. "What China really
wants is a pro-Beijing government, and
to keep Hong Kong the financial and
trade center it is now. With the new sys­tem
of direct elections, it is hard for
Beijing to have the control it desires. "
Like many others, Chen believes that
China's treatment of Hong Kong is in
direct proportion to the colony's eco­nomic
importance to the mainland.
"China has a great stake, both politically
and economically, to make Hong Kong
successful," notes Chen. "I do not think
China will take any dramatic steps to
affect Hong Kong's stability. "
Chen says he ultimately sees Hong
Kong remaining a free business center,
but with what he calls 'limited political
freedoms.' "What I mean by limited
political freedoms is that people will be
able to talk about Hong Kong, but not
about China Anything that might cause
anxiety to Beijing will be restricted. "
In many ways, Chen believes China is
not so much worried about allowing
freedom to Hong Kong, as it is about
Hong Kong's potential impact on main­land
China "That is the lesson the gov­ernment
learned from Tiananmen
Square. Hong Kong will be restricted in
terms of anything that is sensitive to
China"
Asian Cuniculum
Below if a 8G'IIIIJ'lle of 7Jautuler6inl
couna and f11'OfI"tJ'1M ". .,...,..
cally pnIJJCIN""""'ftw ~ in
.Asia:
Coursas
• REGIOItAL IUSlNlSS EJMRON.. MENf. ~. 0Mn CON:&lt.Iateci
f'oeus on po1UieaI8IId aodal factolB u.t
shape the IeIIltIes ofbusine81 in ~
addreaIes the Je8lon's hist.cJrJ, ..,..
pity, poJitlcs, culture, economlc!a, JaWs,
and CUI'ftIIIt buaIness ....
• MODlIN OIINA: Pro9kIeIIIiIMuced undeist&hdlug ott:he QdQeae IDIIbt
(PRe, TaiwaD, 1lOIII Konc) 8Dd fIB ~
of doing busIIua, includIbi culture, tra­dition,
NItgIob, ideolOlY. poIIdta, aDd
economics.
• ASEAN: FaploneImportaDt ......
issues reIatAId to ASEAN COUl\tJies,
including I18&ioDdsm, I1liAJn I ...,
regional economie and bUIiDeas dMl­opment,
.... fNIIIQ. al1d~.
• COMPI1I1MMISSANO ..... GE
MENT IN ASIA: Eumiiles tbeidueDce
of.Asian eultural tIIdtaioBs onlJuelnees
compares regiotIal flade ~ .'
addresses the practical upedB ofa.
West joint ventures and t'OJIIUW"'daJ
negoUadons.
0tMr1fUl,jqr oot.neS: ModemJapan and
Korea; int.eIIsive Qdnese and Japueee
language PNlPalns; Intemattoaal
Political Economy (lPE).
Winterim Progt_ns
• WA4iEiW TOKYO: SD ...
explore fIrsI;haDd the pl'OCBI."wbIdl
foreign COlpoliidions enter the Japaoese
market; includes Involvement of c0rpo­rations,
executlves, and Japmeee p­emment
agencies.
• ASIAIPAOfIC _ MMACaIENT:
Studenm encounter cbal1en8es of
statlIng, joint-venture management, tech­nology
transfer, etbics, and distribution
in Korea, Japan, India, VieIDam, China,
Siberia, and other Asian nations.
OVerseas Programs
• CHINA: Ten-week language, culture,
poHUcs, and business practices seminar
split between the Sbangbai Univenlity of
Finance and Economics and the
University of International Busine8s and
Economics in Beijing; students visit
Chinese companies andjojnt ventures,
travel throughout China.
• JAPAN: 1'hundeIbh'd Japan Center, a
~-round educational faciIIt¥ maln­tained
in metropolitan ToQo.
• KOREA: Semester exchange program
with the Graduate School of
International StudIes at Yonset
University in Korea.
USING HONG KONG
Craig S. Heinz '81, managing direc­tor
of STIR International Holding BV,
represents Asian companies moving
into the European markets as well as
foreign companies moving into Asian
markets. One of Heinz's clients is a
direct sales company, similar to Avon or
Amway, that is currently making
inroads into the heart of China. Heinz
contracts with Chinese distributors
who act as entrepreneurs for his client.
From this mainland "grassroots" level,
he sees the China-Hong Kong drama
slightly differently.
"I believe Hong Kong is going to capi­talize
China, rather than China commu­nizing
Hong Kong," asserts Heinz. "My
experience is that the Chinese are slowly
feeling their way toward capitalism. The
Chinese people want to buy things. This
is especially true in the southern
provinces and the coastal areas. What I
mean to say is the concept of capitalism
is the thing that will overtake China, not
Hong Kong itself."
In fact, Heinz envisions blending
occurring in both directions-Hong
Kong will become more like China, and
China will become more like Hong Kong.
"People used to go into Hong Kong to
followed ~y economic seminars in
'Kuala L1l!l1pur, Singapore and ,
Hong Kong.
A 12 Day exotic adventure 'in Borneo and
Langkawi followed by six days of Pacific
Riqt Economic Seminars •
LEGISLATIVE BUILDING: Any threat to rule of law
could destroy confidence in Hong Kong.
connect with China traders. Now they go
straight into mainland China to do busi­ness.
I personally see China becoming
more of a central trading hub itself, and
I see Hong Kong becoming just another
big mainland city."
In the short term, Heinz says there
will be some economic cleansing and a
period where China lets Hong Kong
know who is boss. "I think a low profile
will suit Hong Kong well in the short
term, since once China takes control
Hong Kong won't have any weight to
push around. In the long term, however,
I see them both absorbing each other.
The two will simply learn to get along."
PlAY 0NIx. Dec:em6er 21.at • Your Adventure Begins
• Snorkel on Sapi Island • Golf the rainforest of lush Langkawi Island
~ • Ride white wat~r rapids on the ~adas River • Relax by the pool
As someone who has more allegiance
to China than to Hong Kong, Heinz also
sees some of Hong Kong's stature as a
financial center shifting to mainland
China "I see Shanghai growing in leaps
and bounds," says Heinz. "It's a city peo­ple
like to like. Many insurance compa­nies
and banks are now basing their
headquarters in Shanghai."
Whether a lot or a little of Hong
Kong's power shifts to China, Heinz
thinks that the colony will play a very
important role in China's present and
future growth as an economic super­power:
"China will definitely use Hong
Kong to continue to learn," he says.
PESSIMISM
Not all T'birds are optimistic about
1997. One Hong Kong alum, who
requested anonymity in exchange for
candidness, says that Hong Kong's future
is not as bright as some might think.
Thunderbird: What is your overall
view on what will happen when Hong
Kong reverts to Chinese rule?
Executive: I believe Hong Kong will
continue to function on the surface very
much the same as before. However, we
will be affected by a change in the
press, Hong Kong's openness towards
• ~arch for the 'elusive orangutans in the Borneo Rainforest • Cruise
the Sukau River in search of the Proboscis Monkey
• Christmas will be.spent a~the Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru Resort Contact: 800.9.ASLAN.9
complete with a special dinner. .
WORK Om~ January 1·7· Economic Opportunities Available
Sponsored by the-Economic Co~ssions' of Malaysia, Sjngapore,
Hong Kong and the Peoples Republic of China.
OR Do BorH!
'lilt Asi.AN ADVENTURE'S ' . ~
~ ~'l11'\\.f 20440 Saplual Drive, Santa'Clarita, CA 91350
TEL.80S.297.9100 / FAX.80S.297.4044
e-mail: inte~et:02170.3602@1compu~erve.com
the West, and a sharp
decline in its opposition
of Beijing.
Individual freedom of
expression will be tried
to the limit. The Chinese
will only tolerate so
much speech against the
Party, and they will prob­ably
invoke some sort of
state emergency if a true
demonstration against
the government occurred
here. The Chinese will
not change their doctrine
for Hong Kong. They will
bend the rules of the 50-
there is a government to
look after them and tell
them what to do, they
will not be too affected if
they lead simple lives
and obey the authority.
They know Hong Kong
will remain affluent.
Companies are still
considering what a Hong
ld daughter, Danielle."
Kathryn D. Barrios '76 is man­aging
director at Americas
Consulting Group in Stamford,
CT. Clipton Flenniken, III '76
is assistant treasurer at AEGON
U.S.A., an insurance holding
company. Richard E. Frank
'76 directs marketing at
Ferromatik Milackon in
Malterdingen, Germany. John
D. Stevenson '76 is director of
sourcing and production at
Initiatives, Inc., a trading com­pany.
He lives with his wife,
Annick Kerrest, in San
Antonio, TX. Vahe Asadourian '77 is presi­dent
ofVatco Properties, Inc. and Olympia
Management Co., a real-estate investment
firm. He resides with his wife, Thelma, and
their two children in Houston, TX.
Christopher C. Bergin '77 is treasurer of
Waters Corp., a manufacturer and distributor
of chromatography instruments. He resides
with his wife, Carole, in Wellesley, MA.
Frederick C. Bromberg '77 is vice-presi­dent
for banks and brokers at J.P. Morgan. He
and his wife, Lauren, live in New York City.
Elizabeth L. Clagett Beck '77 works as for­eign
markets specialist at Fidelity
Investments in Boston. Gerald W. Hallett
'77 is sales and marketing manager at MCI in
Carmel, IN. Sally Ingalls Rudd '77 directs
26 THUNDERBIRD 49 /3/ 1995
UPDATES
marketing at Todd & Associates, Inc., an
architecture services firm in Phoenix. James
S. Jehovics '77 works in marketing at
Occidental Petroleum Corp. He resides with
his wife, Linda, in Sugarland, TX. Frank R.
Jent '77 is in charge of private banking for
nothern Europe at DG (Schweiz) Bank A.G.
He lives with his wife and two-year-<>ld son in
Ote1finge, Switzerland. William K. King '77
works as district sales manager at Mann
Roland, a printing press manufacturer. He
resides with his wife, Suzan Wanandar-King
'78, and their seven-year-<>ld son, Brian, in La
Crescenta, CA. Craig O. Klopfieisch '77 is
mayor of Celina, Ohio. He is also involved in
retail sales and services, real estate develop­ment
and management. He and his wife,
Nancy, have two children, Thomas and Julie.
Jeffrey B. Morris '77 is a government bank­ing
officer in cash management sales at U.S.
Bank in Portland, OR. Scott Nation '77 man­ages
sales at Awning Doctors in Tucson, A'l.
Vicki L. Warren '77 is a consultant at
Omega Performance Corp. in Richmond, VA.
CORREaJONS & CLARIFICATIONS
In the last issue, Thunderbird mis­takenly
reported that Ibrahim
Fahoum '78 had recently relocated
to Australia as managing director
of Arab Bank. In fact, he has been
the managing director of Arab
Bank Australia, Ltd. for the last six
years. Fahoum writes that last year,
Arab Bank Pic. became the first for­eign
bank to receive approval from
the Australian Government to carry
on banking business in Australia as
a locally incorporated bank.
'78
George A. AbreU is president of AEI Falcon
Project Forwarding in Houston, TX. C.
Joseph Atteridge is president and chief
operating officer of Anasazi, Inc., a reserva­tion
systems and services supplier in Phoenix.
Byron W. Battles is telecom consultant at
Booz-Allen & Hamilton, Inc. in McLean, VA.
Denise Burka Iskow is administrative assis­tant
at Temple Shalom. She and her husband,
Sheldon, live in Rockville, MD. Lawrence
Camp is senior privatization advisor for
Central & Eastern Europe at USAID. He lives
in Bethesda, MD. Stephen B. Gasser is
founder and president of Japan-America
Consulting ServiCes, a firm that advises and
trains executives to build their busin.ess with
the Japanese. He lives in Redmond, W A.
Barbara Lanning Hutson manages interna­tional
sales and marketing at Chatsworth
Products, Inc., a manufacturer of datacom
framework systems in Miami, FL. Gerald
Mathews is president of Mathews Furniture
Co. in Fruitport, MI. Frances McCutchon is
administrative assistant at the University of
California in Santa Barbara, CA. Charles L.
Nunu works for Bliesener & Cie S.A., an agri­cultural
commodities trading company in
Prangins, Switzerland. JoAnn Seager directs
programs and events at Zenith Data Systems,
a computer manufacturer in Bufffalo Grove,
1L. Judi A. Shane is chief procurement offi­cer
for the U.N. Mission for the Verification of
Human Rights in Guatemala She lives in New
York City. Suzan Wanadar-King is vice-pres­ident
of Citibank, N.A. She lives with her hus-band,
William King '77, and their seven­year-<>
ld son, Brian, in La Crescenta, CA.
Sinda L_ White is controller of Eliason &
Knuth Companies, Inc. in Omaha, NE.
'79
Jill E. Apple Amirpashaie Jjves with her
husband, Siavash Amirpashaie, in
Woodbridge, Virginia She teaches sixth
grade; he is chief financial officer at Bee & H.
Electric Co. They have two girls, twelve-year­old,
Kathryn, and ten-year-<>ld, Carolyn. Ali
Mohammed Bahaj is treasurer/controller at
Caterpillar, Inc. in Soo Paulo, Brazil. Brian
Ballard is editor of The Wichitan at
Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls,
Texas. Kathryn A. Banks is vice-president at
NationsBank of North Carolina in Charlotte,
NC. John W. Blair is vice-president ofIKS
American Corp., a manufacturing firm in
Gardena, CA. Jay Brandon directs business
development at Tektronix, Inc. in Wilsonville,
OR. John C. Cook is managing director at
Institutional Investors Consulting Co. He, his
wife, Tania and their two-year-<>ld daughter,
Shelley, live in Zurich, Switzerland. Craig F.
Dawson is prinCipal at Catalyst Partners, Inc.,
a consulting service in Colorado Springs, CO.
Donna M. DiBiasio and her husband, Brian,
announce the birth of their daughter, Dena
Samara Goldblatt on February 27, 1995.
Maarten Fleurke is president at ACO
Polymer Products, Inc., a manufacturer and
marketer of trench drainage systems, in
Chardon, OH. Gary Grafel is owner of
Melaleuca, Inc. a producer of personal
hygiene and home cleaning products. He lives
with his wife, Melinda, in Santa Rosa, CA.
David E. Hanas is vice-president and finan­cial
consultant at Merrill Lynch in Evansville,
ID. David D. Johnson is president of
Komatsu Howmet, Ltd., a supplier of invest­ment
casting for gas turbine engines. He and
his wife, Cynthia Johnson, live in Ishikawa,
Japan. Thomas C. Lawson is public finance
vice-president of Sumitomo Bank in Atlanta,
GA. C. Henry Longmire is development offi­cer
and account manager at the
Massachusetts Executive Office of
Communities and Development in Boston.
Christopher H. Lundh is vice-president for
Europe at GlotsalInternational in Concord,
CA. Walter Maeda operates the Kilimar\iaro
Bus Company and is an entrepreneur in the
tourism and farming industries in Tanzania
Peter J . Martin sells commercial insurance
for Sentry Insurance Co. He and his wife,
Nancy Fuhrman, live in Stone Mountain, GA.
Rajeev Merchant is managing director of
strategic planning and business development
for South Asia at AT&T. He lives in New
Delhi, India with his wife and their three chil­dren.
Suzanne O'Hanlon Markle is a self­employed
attorney in Research Triangle Park,
NC. Taco Proper is public relations vice­president
at IMP AC, a communications com­pany
in Hong Kong. Kimberly A. Schulman
Tieman is producer and announcer at
Peachstate Public Radio. She lives with her
husband, John Tieman, in Newman, GA
Carl E. Sjoquist works as a software consul­tant
at Yankee Object Software. He lives with
his wife, Dagmar, in Marshfield, MA. Mark L.
Walher works as market manager at
ShepardsIMcGraw-Hill, Inc. in Colorado
Springs, CO. Marianne Wallach has five
daughters aged seven months to ten years.
She lives in Milwaukee, WI. Jose Lnis
Zepeda recently clin1bed Mt. Kilimar\iaro,
Africa's highest peak. He is a banker with The
First National Bank of Chicago in New York
City.
ALUMNI FOCUS
First MBA Program in Vietnam
Nancy Napier '75 and Anthony Olbrich '75
helped create the first graduate business
program in Vietnam
For T'birds Nancy K. Napier
'75 andAnthony W. Olbrich
'75, normalization of relations
between the u.s. and Vietnam
lwlds special signiju:ance.
The Thunderbird pair recenUy
traveled to Hanoi as instructors
to help create the first u.s.­accredited
graduate business
program in Vietnam.
''Vietnam is a country that few
Americans consider witlwut
emotion, " says Napier, wlw is
professor of international busi­ness
at Boise State University in
Idalw, as weU as director of the
Institute of Global Competitive­ness.
"Tony and I have had the
chance to become part of some­thing
that we hope wiU queU
some of tlwse emotions. "
The landmark education pro­gram,
funded by the Swedish
International Development
Autlwrity and managed by the
University of Hong Kong, aimed
to train hand-picked instructors
from the National Economics
University of Hanoi to become
Vietnam's first MBA faculty.
In August, Napier and Olbrich
(a vice president of corporate
banking at West One Bank in
Idalw) helped graduate the pro­gram'sfirst
29 students, wlw wiU
be instrumental in developing a
model business education pro­gram
for their entire country.
FoUowing is a personal
account of their experience in
Vietnam.
In spite of its current challenges, the future
bodes well for Vietnam-particularly if many
of its people are like the ones we have met
during the MBA program.
The 29 participants, eager to learn, ques­tioned
us on everything from how businesses
grow in the U.S. to how many children the U.S.
government "allows" families to have. Thrilled
to have access to what they called a "real
banker" (my husband), the participants over­whelmed
Tony with their requests for detailed
explanations of a wide range of banking
issues. Although in many cases they were deal­ing
with concepts about which they had little
first-hand experience (such as the profit
motive or the benefits of competition), their
questions were articulate and precise.
Compared to many Asians, the Vietnamese
are more open and direct. Their warm wel­come
of their first American instructor helped
answer the question we all held in our minds:
What would the Vietnamese reaction to
Americans be? When asked what they thought
of the Vietnam War, the Vietnamese consis­tently
say, "That is the past, we are concerned
about the future. "
The participants captured our hearts for
many reasons. They bravely wrestled with
learning to understand American accents and
idioms. They made each of the more than 20
instructors feel like the most important and
valued teacher they have ever known.
Moreover, they did so under conditions that
would make many of us fizzle. They grapple
with frequent power outages, coupled with
typhoons in summer. Temperatures hover in
the 90s and 100s from April to October, with
hwnidity to match, making chalk crumble and
overhead projectors steam up. By day, they
work on computers loaded with the latest soft­ware
available (courtesy of the grant). By
night, they return to small apartments, shared
Nancy K. Napier '75 and
Anthony W. Olbrich '75
have helped create the
first U.S.-accredited grad·
uate business program in
Vietnam. Here (left, and
above right) they stand
with some of the pro·
gram's first graduates.
who will be instru